👋 Hello! You can read this on CH.com if you prefer. You can always edit it…. As developers we can login to FTP, open the file, and make the change. It is that easy. Don’t overthink it. As a designer you can adjust that landing page design later, or fix the social template post launch. We spend so much time hoping to get it just perfect. But the truth is, we need to focus on getting the MVP out there. Figure out the core functionality and focus on that. Once that is ready, ship it. You can add...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Hello! When I first had the idea for Block by Block, I was excited. I opened up Notion and started to write out the idea and concept furiously. I was ready to go all in. But then I slowed myself down. I needed to validate the idea before I spent my time on it. Validation You can validate an idea in many ways. My process is quite simple. I look for tiny moments of validation and let them continue building on each other. These moments continue to stack up, which creates momentum for your idea....
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hello! Let’s kick off this Build With Me (BWM) series with how I got the initial idea for Block by Block. While working on the Rockbase theme (coming very soon), I realized how powerful the NEW way of building with WordPress is. But… While powerful, it creates some challenges for developers and users who are not experienced in the new way of WordPress. It moves away from what people know and into a new way of thinking. With a little bit of practice, I believe everyone can master the site...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hello! I have spent a lot of time on Nerd Notes talking about freelancing. But I have a confession to make. I no longer make the majority of my income from freelance clients. Over the past year, I have been migrating away from clients and into the product world. My reason for doing this was to get more freedom in my business. During my freelancing career, I had the opportunity to work with some fantastic clients. But, I got away from the freedom. As my family has continued on our nomadic...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hello! Today I am going to share with you my thoughts on niches and how to use them to your advantage as a freelancer. You can keep reading this email or check it out on CH.com Should you niche as a freelancer, or should you not? That is the question! In my experience, freelancers that niche can survive and prosper while creating a more sustainable business than someone that does not niche. Define Niche "A small section of the market for a particular kind of product or service" Pick a niche...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hey friend! This will be the last issue of the Nerd Notes in 2023. I figure everyone is enjoying the holidays; who wants to read emails (or write them)? I will see you on January 02, 2024; 2024 will be my (and your) biggest year yet. As we close out 2023, I can’t help but think about my goals heading into the new year. One of my core values is to keep things simple, and I carry this over to my planning out a new year. When I sat down to think through what I wanted 2024 to look like for my...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hello! Today I am going to share with you how building in public helped me get noticed as a freelancer and how I recently used it to get noticed by the CEO of ConvertKit. You can read it in this email or check it out on CH.com Do you struggle to get noticed? Most of the solopreneurs and freelance creatives that I know struggle to gain traction or be seen. You got into this solopreneur journey because you wanted to create freedom. You wanted to spend more time working on the things you enjoy...
over 1 year ago • 5 min read
Hello! Today I am going to share with you my best tips for becoming a video call master! I used to absolutely dread anytime I had a video call, but now I look forward to them (most of the time). You can keep reading here or check out the article on CH.com If I had a video call scheduled for the day I would start sweating through my clothes hours before it was set to begin. The night before, I would barely sleep. I would get so nervous that it would make me sick. That is not just a metaphor. I...
over 1 year ago • 5 min read
Hello! Today I am going to teach you how raise your freelance rates effectively. This change when done right can completely change your freelance business. You can read about it here or check it out on CH.com. Hit reply at the end and let me know what your biggest challenge has been when it comes to raising your rates. The rate you set last year for your freelance services does not have to be the rate you use until the end of time. Your rate should change and grow as your business scales. But...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read